Mauritania has Islam as its State religion (Art. 5), the President must be a Muslim (Art. 23), and he is assisted by a High Islamic Council (Art. 94). The constitution does not acknowledge explicitly an individual right to choose and practice one's religion. However, some fundamental rights are guaranteed (Pmbl, Art. 10 ff.) and the pluralist democratic character is strongly protected (Art. 99).

The strong stance of the Presidential Government is emphasized by the President's continuous re-eligibility (Art. 28), the short regular sessions of Parliament (Art. 52), the governmental competence to set the priorities of the parliamentary agendas (Art. 69), and the de facto restriction for votes of no confidence (cf. Art. 74-77). The legislative process provides for an examination of constitutionality prior to adopting laws (Art. 67, 86). Among the special provisions of the Mauritanian Constitution is the explicit duty to know the law (Art. 17). Another specialty of Mauritania's Constitution is the requirement of a one third majority before any constitutional amendment is being discussed in Parliament (Art. 99).